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Associated Press Wednesday Ohio Headlines - 1/6/2010
Latest Ohio news, sports, business and entertainment:
WINTER WEATHER
Cold snap gripping Gulf states threatens Fla. crop
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Florida farmers are working to salvage millions of dollars worth of crops as sun-seeking tourists cope with chilly temperatures.
Vacationing Ohio college students Tara McCourry and Stephen McFarren braved a 27-degree wind chill as they walked hand-in-hand along Pensacola Beach, Florida, yesterday. The couple adjusted their hats and gloves as they buffered themselves against the wind.
The unusual cold is expected to last through the weekend in the Southern states.
Cold weather has moved across the eastern U.S., leaving behind record snowfall in some areas. The National Weather Service says another 5 to 6 inches of snow fell yesterday in areas of northeast Ohio already covered by 2 feet of snow.
CLEVELAND SCHOOLS
Cleveland schools boss wants to close 18 schools
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland schools chief wants to close 18 schools as part of a broader shake-up of the district.
Recommendations announced yesterday by school system CEO Eugene Sanders could replace staff or overhaul the curriculum at the remaining schools. The school board will vote on the proposal Feb. 23.
Sanders' plan is aimed at lifting schools out of academic emergency or watch, categories that now define about three-quarters of Cleveland schools. He also wants to boost the district's 54 percent graduation rate.
The closings would send more than 4,500 students to other schools. Sanders declined to say how many district employees would be laid off.
Most of the schools he wants to shut down are on the city's east side, littered with homes abandoned by foreclosure.
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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com
POLITICAL FUNDRAISING
In Ohio, former president says Dems must reach out
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - People who were in the audience say former President Bill Clinton has told an Ohio gathering that Democrats must pay attention to disillusioned voters.
Clinton appeared in the Toledo area last evening, at an invitation-only fundraiser for Ohio's Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, who's seeking a second term. Reporters were barred from the event.
Democratic Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop (KAH'-nahp) was in attendance and says the former president issued a call for Democrats to reach out to unhappy independents and progressives.
Toledo lawyer Jerry Phillips quoted Clinton as saying Republicans are mad at Democrats for not fixing the GOP's "mess" quickly enough.
Clinton later spoke at a similar event in the Youngstown area.
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Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/
DRUG AGENT CHARGED
Suspect-framing trial to begin for Ohio drug agent
CLEVELAND (AP) - A federal drug agent is going on trial in Cleveland on charges of helping to frame 17 people in undercover drug sales made by a rogue informant.
Agent Lee Lucas has spent 19 years chasing drug traffickers for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
His trial starts today with jury selection. Its outcome could influence the way agents handle informants and defense attorneys challenge their work.
Lucas faces 18 charges including obstruction of justice and perjury.
The government dropped charges that came from tips provided by his informant. Before that, one person had been convicted and served about 16 months of a 10-year sentence.
Lucas says any errors in his trial testimony or drug surveillance reports were innocent and not intended to frame anyone. His informant is serving 15 years in prison.
MOVIE TAX CREDITS
State says Ohio's new movie tax credit pays off
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The state says a new Ohio tax credit for film making is beginning to pay off.
The state says four movie projects will contribute about $25 million to Ohio's economy as a result of the credit enacted last year. That includes jobs, at least temporary ones, for production-crew members and extras for nearly 3,000.
The productions include the film "Unstoppable" starring Denzel Washington about a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals. Twenty percent of the film was shot in eastern and southeastern Ohio.
Three independent movies are in the works in the Cleveland area.
OHIO LOTTERY AUDIT
State auditor begins close look at Ohio Lottery
CLEVELAND (AP) - The state auditor is beginning a review of the Ohio Lottery, an undertaking the lottery has called unreasonable and unnecessary.
Auditor Mary Taylor has said she wants to make certain the lottery is operating efficiently, amid what she described as "heightened risk" for the agency. She has pointed to the uncertain nature of gambling revenue, along with the voter-approved constitutional amendment allowing casinos in Ohio's largest cities.
Taylor was scheduled to hold an introductory meeting with lottery officials today to go over how the audit will be conducted.
In a letter to Taylor in November, Lottery Executive Director Kathleen Burke questioned whether the audit was a wise use of taxpayer funds. The lottery will bear the estimated $118,000 cost.
ABRAMOFF-NEY
Ex-Ohio congressman in documentary about lobbyist
CLEVELAND (AP) - A former Ohio congressman who served time in prison in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal will appear in a documentary about the case.
And Bob Ney, a Republican, plans to attend the premiere of the film titled "Casino Jack and the United States of Money." The January 23 premiere will be held at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Ney says he wasn't paid to appear in the documentary.
Before pleading guilty to corruption, Ney represented a southeast Ohio congressional district and chaired the House Administration Committee. He admitted trading political favors for gifts and campaign donations arranged by Abramoff and his associates.
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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com
TRAIN ACCIDENT
Injured Ohio girl thought train could be outrun
HOLLAND, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio girl who was severely injured in a train accident that killed her friend says they thought they had enough time to run across the tracks.
Sixteen-year-old Brianna Mullinger (MUH'-lin-jur) tells Toledo station WTVG-TV that she and 15-year-old Cody Brown believed the Amtrak train was moving slowly enough that they could beat it on Dec. 16.
The boy was killed when the two were struck by the passenger train while making their way to Springfield High School, near Toledo in northwest Ohio. Mullinger's injuries included a leg so badly damaged it had to be amputated at the knee.
Before going home from the hospital yetserday, the girl urged pedestrians and drivers to always be patient and wait for trains to pass.
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Information from: WTVG-TV, http://www.13abc.com
OBAMA-TEACHERS
Obama to honor outstanding teachers
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is honoring teachers who've been given awards for excellence.
It's part of his "Educate to Innovate" campaign for excellence in the so-called STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math.
The White House says teachers being recognized today include Sally Pelegrin of Cleveland and Sharon Hall of Maineville, near Cincinnati.
The president also will announce key new partnerships in his campaign to help reach the administration's goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade.
CASINO-ARSON
Ohio man arrested in Erie casino restroom arson
ERIE, Pa. (AP) - State police have arrested an Ohio man for allegedly setting fire to a restroom at the Presque (presk) Isle Downs & Casino in Erie.
Police say a security officer found the fire after patrons smelled smoke about 2:20 this morning.
Police have arrested 26-year-old William McMillen of Cleveland and charged him with arson, risking a catastrophe and other charges. He was awaiting arraignment before a district judge in Erie.
Police say nobody was hurt. About 150 patrons and employees were in the slot machine casino when the fire was reported.
Police did not immediately say how the fire was started or why McMillen allegedly set it.
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Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com
RETAIL SALES OUTLOOK
Stores to post modest December sales gains
NEW YORK (AP) - A report out today shows holiday shoppers bought a little more jewelry, electronics and boots but passed by the women's clothing racks.
The latest figures from MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse offers confirmation that shoppers were picky with their spending.
Analysts say discounters and wholesale club operators such as Costco will emerge as the holiday season winners, while many apparel stores are likely to suffer sales declines.
The worst December performers are expected to be teen merchants, particularly pricier stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, based in the Columbus (Ohio) suburb of New Albany.
Columbus-based Limited Brands, which operates Victoria's Secret, is expected to post good results.
KFC-ADS ON HYDRANTS
KFC markets 'fiery' wings on fire hydrants
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Fast-food chain KFC is giving two Indiana cities $7,500 so it can emblazon founder Colonel Sanders' face on their hydrants and fire extinguishers to promote new "fiery" chicken wings.
Experts say to expect more ads like this, on public property from sewer grates to the local landfill, as companies look to cut through the clutter of traditional advertising.
KFC last year spent about $16,000 to help fix potholes in four cities, including Warren in northeast Ohio. In return, more than 1,500 potholes were branded "Re-Freshed by KFC" in chalk that lasted about a month.
SWIMMING POOL STEER
1,000-pound steer rescued from Ohio swimming pool
HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) - A roving half-ton steer has plunged into an icy Ohio swimming pool, requiring a rescue operation that involved a police officer, fire crew and neighbors.
They had the 6-year-old Limousin (lee-moo-ZAN') steer named Walter out of the backyard pool in about 15 minutes yesterday afternoon in rural Ross Township, north of Cincinnati. They put a rope around the animal's neck to keep its head above water and lured it from the nine-foot deep end of the pool into the shallow part and then up the pool's steps.
Becky Freson, whose family owns Walter, says the steer is something of an "escape artist." The animal previously wandered across the street to the grounds of a high school.
The Fresons say the steer did not appear injured after emerging from the family's pool.
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Information from: The JournalNews of Hamilton, http://www.journal-news.com/
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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